MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A pair of fishermen said they spotted two right whales off the coast of Pinellas County Sunday evening.
Derek Gaines was fishing with his father outside of John’s Pass near Madeira Beach at around 5 p.m. when he spotted what he believed were two right whales.
“There’s two right there,” he said as he recorded the marine mammals.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has also reported multiple right whales spotted off the Florida coasts.
(Credit: Derek Gaines)
(Credit: Derek Gaines)
(Credit: Derek Gaines)
The first calf sighting happened off the Carolinas between Nov. 20 and Nov. 25. The aerial survey said it spotted three potential mothers named Black Heart, Koala, and Curlew. On Nov. 24, a mother and a young calf were spotted off Cape Roman, S.C.
The two adult female North Atlantic right whales, Koala and Curlew, were spotted off Perdido Pass near the Alabama-Florida border on Feb. 2.
FWC said it is rare for right whales to be spotted in the Gulf area. The last sighting in the Gulf before Koala and Curlew was back in 2020.
There were more North Atlantic right whale sightings in the Gulf on Feb. 9.
Biologists are working to monitor their locations and better understand the movements in this habitat.
The FWC said North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, and although they move slow, they maintain a low profile.
It is against the law to be within 500 yards of a right whale whether it is in a vessel, non-motorized equipment, or an aircraft.
Report future sightings at 877-WHALE-HELP.